College Choice:Every weekday, until the deadline at the end of teh month, careers expert Brian Mooney will guide you through the CAO process and outline the best possible options
Even though the construction boom in property is definitely over, the National Development Plan should ensure that there will be constant demand for graduates within the construction sector.
One option for students wishing to work in the industry is to apply for courses in civil & building services engineering or architecture.
Up to 40 per cent of those in the construction industry have qualifications in engineering areas such as electrical, electronic, mechanical and computer engineering.
Architecture
There are six level 8 architectural degree courses, available through the CAO: (DN001) in UCD; (LM099) in the University of Limerick; (CK606) offered jointly by UCC and CIT; (WD144) at WIT; (DT101) in DIT Bolton Street; and (SG344) new for 2008 in IT Sligo.
Both the DIT and UL courses are restricted application courses, which must be listed by the February deadline, with aptitude tests followed by interviews and portfolio presentation. A maximum 200 points are awarded during this process. Points required for the non restricted programmes range from 470- 525.
UCD offers (DN078), a five-year structural engineering with architecture degree, which required 500 points in 2007. The National Building Agency (www.nba.ie) awards a scholarship for architecture to students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Architectural technology
Architectural technologists prepare the paperwork used in construction as well as freehand and computer-aided design drawings. Seven institutes of technology offer three-year ordinary degree level 7 programmes in architectural technology, with a wide range of points requirements ranging from 425 in the DIT to 140 in Letterkenny.
The course providers are the DIT (DT105); GMIT offers two programmes, (GA472) and (GA873) in Castlebar; Cork IT (CR090); Waterford IT (WD094); Letterkenny IT (LY547); and Carlow IT (CW 407) & (CW007) on its Wexford campus.
Interior architecture
The institutes of technology in Cork (CR053) and Sligo (SG336) offer interior design level 7 programmes, which required 250 and 205 points respectively.
In the DIT, design, interior and furniture (DT544), which is a restricted application programme, covers interior or furniture design. Griffith College offers a fee-paying option of both interior architecture (GC489) and interior design (GC490).
Civil and structural engineering
Civil engineers design, plan and build roads, airports, bridges, dams and harbours.
Level 8 degrees are offered in UCD (DN072); DIT (DT027); NUI Galway (GY402); UCC (CK602); LIT (LC421); Sligo IT (SG342); and new in 2008 from UL (LM085).
Level 7 civil engineering degrees are available from eight ITs in Carlow, Cork, Dublin, Dundalk, Galway-Mayo, Letterkenny, Sligo and Waterford.
The structural engineer has skills varying from mathematical skills at the design stage, to practical skills when the structure is being constructed. Structural engineering at level 8 is available from CIT (CR109) and the DIT (DT024).
Building services engineers
Building services engineering involves the design and commissioning of what makes a building work. In the world of energy conservation and sustainable design, building services engineers play a vital role.
The DIT (DT026) offers level 8 awards and level 7/6 awards are offered in DIT (DT005); Waterford (WD040); Cork (CR072); Letterkenny (LY517); and Dundalk (DK734).
Land and building surveying
Before an architect gets involved, land has to be surveyed and the environmental implications of the proposed building, along with its compliance with planning regulations, weighed up.
Two degree programmes at DIT train graduates for this work, which involves geomatics or land surveying (DT112) and planning and environmental management (DT106). Building surveying (DK830) at Dundalk IT is the only level 8 degree in building surveying.
All of the above courses are highly regarded within the surveying profession, having recognition and exam exemptions from the Society of Chartered Surveyors.
Quantity surveying
A quantity surveyor will analyse the building design for the purpose of cost planning, detailed tendering, cost and control. DIT (DT111) and Limerick IT (LC471) offer four-year level 8 degrees, with IT Carlow (CW438), Waterford (WD162) and Sligo (SG343) introducing new degrees in 2008. Level 7 programmes are offered in GMIT (GA471); Letterkenny (LY507); CIT (CR052); and new in 2008, Tralee (TL600).
Construction management
The management of the building process involves the organisation of contracts for labour, materials, plant and negotiations with contractors.
DIT (DT117), Waterford IT (WD025), Limerick IT (LC491) and Galway-Mayo IT (GA480) offer level 8 degrees in construction management. UL offers construction management and engineering (LM082).
Valuation surveyor
Once the building is completed, the chartered/valuation surveyor gets involved. DIT (DT110) provides a four-year programme that offers valuation surveying, real estate, investment and management, property auctioneering and estate agency in Ireland and abroad.
Construction studies
For students interested in a broad education and technical training in the principles and techniques of construction, two-year certificate courses are offered in a number of IT's. See www.qualifax.ie.
Note. A number of the DIT programmes listed above are second-year programmes, arising out of their (DT025) omnibus engineering degree.
Tomorrow: opportunities at levels 6 & 7.
